31 August 2011 Watford, United Kingdom [BUC NEWS] When an articulated lorry crashed into a pub and caused a six vehicle pile-up, BUC Health Ministries director, Sharon Platt-McDonald found herself in the midst of the action.
The accident happened right outside her house just after she had turned into her front drive. She told BUC News, “I didn’t think about it. I just ran across the road to help. It is just something I would naturally have done.” The accident, on Tuesday, 16 August, closed the road in Houghton Regis as drivers were trapped in their cars. Sharon, a qualified nurse and first-aider, was one of the first on the scene, helping before emergency services could get there.
Her next door neighbour, Michael Sullivan told reporters, “She was so in control – she was a hero, definitely. It was like a war zone.” Sharon gave basic first aid and helped free people from their cars. The lorry driver was airlifted to Addenbrooke’s Hospital, Cambridge but miraculously escaped with only minor injuries. He had to be cut free from the wreckage by firefighters. Another five were taken to the Luton and Dunstable Hospital. A spokesperson for the pub owners told the Dunstable Gazette, “Thankfully no-one was seriously injured but the quick thinking of those at the scene helped fire and ambulance crews get the situation under control as soon as possible.”
The Dunstable Gazette called Sharon and her neighbour ‘modest heroes’ for the roles they played in providing care and immediate first aid following the crash. A fuller report appeared in the 24 August print edition of the Gazette (pictured). Sharon said, “You never know when you may get caught up with such things, but like the Good Samaritan, you don’t have time to think. You just need to provide help.” [tedNEWS]
tedNEWS Staff: Miroslav Pujic, director; Deana Stojkovic, editor
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